Brave Little State

Not being able to drive in this state can be isolating — especially for older Vermonters navigating the challenges of aging.   Ninety-two-year-old Gerry Quinlan has found a way, with a network of friends that can drive her to their weekly coffee dates in Essex. But she’s wondering how others do it, so she came to us with this question: "How do you maintain a social life in Vermont once you can no...

Wanting children, and not being able to have them, is an experience people rarely discuss publicly. But it’s one that cuts close to the bone for many — like Gina Accorsi, of Milton.  Gina is grieving the loss of a path she can’t take, and she’s looking for support as she charts a new one. She reached out to us with some questions: “How common is childlessness in Vermont today? Is there a support s...

Do you know what rocker panels are? No? Well, one listener found out hers were rusted during her annual car inspection — and that they were in need of a pricey repair. Vermont is one of just nine states that still requires annual safety inspections for all cars. And over and over, car inspections — especially car inspections that end in failure — bring frustrated Vermonters to the BLS question box...

Vermont’s logging industry has changed a lot over the last several decades. But one thing remains true: We just can’t agree about how to manage our forests in the face of climate change. This raises a lot of questions about how Vermont should manage its forests — and it has led to heated debates around the state. For photos from the episode, check out the web version of this story . This episode w...

What does it mean to be a Vermonter if you’ve left the Green Mountain State?  Reporter Myra Flynn brings us on a sonic journey across the globe from Los Angeles to the Dominican Republic, to Jamaica. There are love stories, tales of taking chances and conversations about what it means to call somewhere home.  Thanks to question-asker Jesse Wingate of Virginia – formerly of North Troy, Vermont – fo...

South Royalton has something that no other Vermont town does: a law school. But for a long time, there’s been one rumor the town and the school can’t seem to shake — that Vermont Law & Graduate School is on the verge of upping sticks for Burlington.  Question-asker Tess Mix, of neighboring Tunbridge, has been hearing this rumor her whole life. She wants to know, is it true? And how reliant is...

You can find the swoopy, stylized version of the word “Stowe” everywhere — police cruisers, store windows, a covered bridge. It’s as if the entire town is part of one giant marketing campaign. Question-asker Joe Emery of Essex finds this sort of weird, and wants to know how it came to be. We made a video version of this episode! Check it out here .   For more photos and an episode transcript, head...

Five mysterious disappearances were the talk of Bennington in the mid-20th century. Now, they’ve developed a cult following online. We revisit the initial cases and trace the rise of the “Bennington Triangle” in the popular imagination. Thanks to Kevin Landry of Claremont, New Hampshire for the great question. Check out the web version of this story here . This episode was reported by Howard Weiss...

Cha-ching. Vermont health insurance is pricey, and getting more expensive really quickly. For one listener in Montpelier, it’s just not adding up. Rosie Krueger says sky-high health insurance costs were a real pill when she was building budgets on the Montpelier City Council a few years ago. Since then, this health insurance dilemma has only gotten worse. The good news: There’s a pretty straightfo...

Forests for the people! Democracy in the woods! Most towns in Vermont have a locally owned forest, but no two are exactly the same — and their stories are still unfolding. Check out the web version of this episode for photos and a full transcript . You can participate in UVM’s town forest census project here . Thanks to Anne Wallace of Bristol for the great question. This episode was reported by L...

Vermont used to have hundreds of dumps all over the state. These days, most of the state’s trash ends up in one place: a landfill in Coventry. Question-asker Sylvia Dodge, of Lyndon, wants to know why all that trash ends up in just one small town. We visit the Coventry landfill, trash bag in hand, and talk to the people doing the dirty work. You can find photos from our reporting, and a full trans...

We track down the Lorax of Vermont cemeteries and visit a farm in East Putney where the past and present collide. Share your feedback about BLS! We’d love to hear from you and it will help us make the show even better. Plus: prizes! Thanks to Kathleen Cuneen of Thetford for the great question. Check out the web version of this episode for photos and a full transcript . This episode was reported by...

Alex Larrabee is in 10th grade at the Danville School in the Northeast Kingdom. She doesn’t hunt, but her family does and her classmates do. And she’s noticed that people who go hunting… it’s not a casual interest. They’re passionate about it. Alex, on the other hand, doesn’t really get what all the fuss is about. Now, we at Brave Little State are not big hunters, and neither is Lola Duffort, our...

It’s been seven years since Colorado-based Vail Resorts bought the ski resort at Stowe. Almost immediately, Vail cut the cost of a season pass there in half. But cheaper skiing hasn’t deterred people from lampooning Vail online or displaying angry bumper stickers in ski town parking lots — spotlighting a tension over the soul of Vermont ski culture and ski towns. In this episode, we look into what...

Government for the people! A beacon of democracy! The Postal Service has been essential for free speech and the circulation of ideas since before the founding of the United States. These days, it's becoming increasingly important during elections, as more people vote by mail. And it’s still a vital part of many communities, from beloved local mail carriers to shiny, gold P.O. Boxes in general stor...

We’re sharing a story from New Hampshire Public Radio’s Document team. A young police officer unexpectedly finds herself back in New Hampshire, and she’s not the same person she was when she left. Something happened to her – to all of us. But for Officer Emelia Campbell, this thing still lives in her brain and her body. NHPR’s Lauren Chooljian brings you Emelia’s story of survival and resilience i...

Climate change is here. So is Vermont’s energy transition. Ahead of the 2024 election, voters want to know: How do they fit in? Environment and climate reporter Abagael Giles looks into efforts to both mitigate and adapt to climate change in this pivotal moment. And she explores how Vermont can make sure its most remote communities aren’t left behind. Thanks to Laura Zettler of Fairfax and Pam Lad...

For centuries, humans have transported plants and animals and fungi all around the globe. Whether exotic plants for a home garden or spores hitching a ride on a boot, flora and fauna have found their way into ecosystems that were unprepared for their arrival. These “invasive species” have no natural predators to keep them in check and in that absence, they wreak havoc. But which of these species h...

The “girlie shows” are long gone from the county fairs. Former clubs like Planet Rock in Barre and Club Fantasy in South Burlington have all shut down. Vermont is now the only New England state without strip clubs. One stripper who grew up in Vermont reached out with a simple question: Why? For photos from our reporting, check out the web version of this story . Thanks to Susan Meiselas and Magnum...

For as long as Carly Berlin has been reporting on housing issues for Vermont Public and VTDigger, she’s been hearing some version of this question: Is Vermont’s rise in homelessness due to unhoused people moving here from out-of-state? She hasn’t been able to track down an easy answer to this question. And in the absence of information, the idea that Vermont’s benefits are a “magnet” for those exp...

A chapter of Northeast Kingdom history that is most mysterious. A man whose talent and ambition led him down a perilous path. To answer a question from Eric Lucier of Jay, Henry Epp tells the story of the Space Research Corporation and its founder, Gerald Bull. We originally released this episode in 2022. Check out photos of the Space Research Corporation site, then and now, in our web feature . H...

What’s summer without a road trip? Every year, Brave Little State travels around Vermont to find the stories behind the road signs. But even with several years of investigations under our seatbelts, we’re still finding plenty of surprises. This year, we looked into the stories behind Lake Willoughby, Hells Peak Road and Pumpkin Harbor Road. You can find the web version of this story here . And pss...

Whew… a big question. And certainly not one with a yes or no answer. Happiness looks different depending on who you ask. So we visited five Vermonters to learn what happiness looks like to them. Question-asker Courtney Rabuffo is a recent transplant to Vermont. She’s found a lot of happiness in her new home in North Hero. But she wants to know how other Vermonters are faring, which is why she aske...

Jeezum crow , is it tough to find the origin of the phrase ‘jeezum crow’! Join us for our exploration into this quintessential Vermont saying, as we journey from folklore to linguistics to… crows. Thanks to Sandra Bettis of Middlesex for the great question: “Where did ‘jeezum crow’ come from and is it just a Vermont saying?” Find the web version of this episode here . This episode was reported by...

Here we are again. Exactly one year after historic floods ravaged Vermont, parts of the state are again dealing with devastating flooding following heavy rains. We turn back to a 2023 episode about how understanding why these floods are so destructive is not as simple as measuring rainfall. Last year, reporter Lexi Krupp took on what turned out to be a very timely question from Gus Goodwin of East...